Even after cabinet expansion, skewed representation of women, tribals in government

Every cabinet expansion and reshuffle, it seems, leaves more disappointed and dissenting than satisfied. On Friday, when chief minister Devendra Fadnavis expanded and reshuffled his cabinet, inducting 10 MLAs into the council of ministers, among several disappointed aspirants were women and tribal MLAs.

Not a single woman or tribal MLA was inducted in the expansion, which was pending since long. This means that out of the total 39 ministers, including ministers of state and the CM, there are just two women (one cabinet, one MoS) and two tribal ministers (one cabinet and one MoS).

Incidentally, the BJP and Shiv Sena have 13 women and 14 tribal MLAs. In addition, there are three women members in the legislative council.

Pankaja Munde and Vidya Thakur (both BJP) were inducted on the day Fadnavis took oath as CM in October 2014 as cabinet ministers — women and child, and MoS, women and child, respectively.

Vishnu Sawara and Amberish Rao Raje were also inducted in the first phase as cabinet ministers (tribal development) and MoS (tribal development).

Tribals constitute 10% of the population in the state and women represent half.

Also, even the 5% women having ministerships are from the BJP, not a single one from the Sena, despite the party having 11 ministerial berths in the government, including MoS now. Active legislator Neelam Gorhe was again denied a berth even as two male MLAs got inducted.

A tribal BJP MLA said, "I was expecting a berth this time around considering my work. I am disappointed. I am not sure whether they will consider me in the next term either."